The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, is set to bestow Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani with an Award of Excellence and Grand Patron of the NMA for his commitment to the transformation of the healthcare sector.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its chairman, Madaki David-Sheyin, the award comes as a recognition of the governor’s commitment to the welfare and progress of all medical professionals, even “in the midst of the economic crisis in the country and strangulating debt burden in the state.”
According to him, the prestigious award will be presented to Mr Sani at the forthcoming annual general meeting and scientific conference in Kaduna on August 10, 2024.
Mr Sheyin explained that some of the remarkable achievements that earned Mr Sani the honour include, “15% annual budgetary commitment to the health sector, and the distribution of medical equipment and consumables to 290 primary health care centres in Kaduna State.
“Inauguration of 5 mobile medical trucks equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for rural areas, ongoing process for the employment of 89 medical doctors to enhance healthcare delivery.”
Others are the “commencement of payment of the 100% 2014 CONMESS salary structure for doctors in the state to encourage retention, payment of the medical residency training fund, MRTF, for resident doctors, partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to address substance abuse in Kaduna State.
“Renovation, reconstruction, and equipping of six general hospitals in Kaduna: Rigasa, Maigana, Gwantu, Kafanchan, Giwa, and Ikara [two in each senatorial zone], amongst several others.”
The association added that the state has significantly become the first state in Nigeria to achieve 100% public healthcare facility coverage in Nigeria.
“The Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency, (KADHSMA), has also successfully completed the onboarding and distribution of malaria, maternal, newborn, and child health medicines to the primary healthcare facilities in the state, including hard to reach centres. This great feat was completed on the 30th April, 2024, as all the 1062 public facilities in the state are currently enrolled in the drug revolving fund scheme,” Mr Sheyin noted.
